Global overview

Nearly half of the world's population (47 per cent) lives in urban areas,
a figure which is expected to grow by 2 per cent per year during 2000-15
(United Nations Population Division 2001a). The accumulation of people,
their consumption patterns, travel behaviour and their urban economic
activities have a large impact on the environment in terms of resource
consumption and waste discharges. However, cities also offer opportunities
to manage a growing population in a sustainable way.